But it wasn’t to be. The pamphlet was a hoax, put up by a soulless prankster as a way of getting back at a rival by making their phone number the number to call for a job at the make believe new fast food restaurant.

There was much sadness in the town when they learned their dream of casually picking up a chalupa at the drive-thru was dead. And the plight of the Taco Bell-less arctic dwellers became a national story.

However, this story is going to have a happy ending. For one day, at least.

As consolation prize for their suffering, Taco Bell is shipping 950 pounds of seasoned beef, 300 pounds of lettuce, 150 pounds of cheddar cheese, 500 pounds of reduced fat sour cream and 300 pounds of tomatoes to Bethel for the Fourth of July holiday. It’s enough ingredients for 10,000 tacos — or at least one free taco for every resident of Bethel.

“If we can feed people in Afghanistan and Iraq, we can feed people in Bethel,” company CEO Greg Creed explained.

No word on whether drug stores in Bethel are now stocking up on antacids.